Marsch: 'Lack Of Discipline' Led To U.S. Copa Exit
July 4 (Reuters) - History is at stake for both Venezuela and Canada when they meet on Friday in Arlington, Texas, in the second Copa America quarter-final.
Long considered one of the minnows of South American football, Venezuela would guarantee tying their best Copa America showing by advancing past Canada, ensuring they at least match their fourth-place finish in 2011.
"We know that we have to motivate ourselves a little bit more than maybe how we motivated ourselves for the group phase," Venezuela manager Fernando Batista said, through an interpreter.
"Because we are very close to surpassing the best performance historically of Venezuela in Copa America. We know it's important."
Venezuela won all three of their Group B matches but perhaps rode their luck a bit in the process, aided by Enner Valencia's early red card in a 2-1 win over Ecuador and Orbelin Pineda's penalty miss in a 1-0 win over Mexico.
In their first Copa America appearance, Canada also got some breaks in their path to the quarter-finals, defeating Peru 1-0 and drawing Chile 0-0 in matches in which both opponents received red cards.
Canada's one goal, scored via Jonathan David, is the fewest among teams that advanced and they will be without winger Tajon Buchanan, who suffered a broken tibia in training following the Chile draw that clinched the second-place finish in Group A.
"There's so much room for improvement," manager Jesse Marsch said after the Chile draw.
"But I have to say the overall mentality and commitment to try to be the team that we want to become has been at the highest level I've seen of any team I've worked with.
"That part I've really enjoyed. I'm proud of them, but more so, I'm happy for them." (Reporting by Field Level Media; Editing by Peter Rutherford )
1620087944 60909488ca01d A0348791e27680d5fb5e5628de5dd684 Roast Duck E1512331672534 IMG 40881 ?fit=1840%2C1220&ssl=14652648082 4d42b98e0f B Honey Orange Roasted Duck Roast Duck Pure Deliciousness 913179 C20cb2d6d0a54f98bcb9f8ce2e14649c 1600px COLOURBOX16231731 5544d0efb9fcb01225c9dbab67ceeaf1 Paleo Roast Duck Dinner 04 2513944243 3077dc48f3 B Roast Duck Christmas Dinner 27441217 1600px COLOURBOX16231718 13936ec26b0933a4c4b5da323fc4fd16 1600px COLOURBOX16246100 Roast Duck Dinner 536084 1600px COLOURBOX16231717 Roast Duck Gq 12dec18 Charlie Mckay B Roast Duck Dinner E4XHAP ROAST DUCK INN Restaurant Take Away Menu 1 2cc8dbd2486d311271879a5dbcfaa7f6 42cdcbdb Tengyart Jkw Xlnh1wo Unsplash 2048x1365 Ultimate Roast Duck Dinner 6 134820 1 Whole Roasted Duck With Scalloped Potatoes And Red Cabbage 4 768x1152 T 1482436342620 Name RoastedDuck1 Screen Shot 2020 10 26 At 9.06.15 PM Roast Duck Sauces Luxury Roast Duck With Orange And Ginger Recipe Nyt Cooking Of Roast Duck Sauces Db29e4bd946bba070e8315f35f2c2b4d Roast Duck Dinner Menu Maxresdefault DSC 0460 1 1